Scaffolding and like clip or clamp



Aug. 31, 1937. A. MACBETH SCAEFOLDING AND LIKE CLIP OR CLAMP Filed Jan. 21, 1936 //Yl /Y7'0E, .1944 EN MHCBE TH ,Wil'

Patented Aug. 31, 1937 2,091,763 SGAFFOLDING AND LIKE our on CLAMP Allan Macbeth, Bowdon, Altrincham, England, assignor to Mills Scaffold Company Limited, London, England, a British company Application January 21, 1936, Serial No.60,146 In Great Britain February 2, 1935 4 Claims.

This invention relates to clips or clamps for connecting together in a detachable manner tubular or other structural members used in the erection of scaffolding, staging, fencing and for 5 other analogous purposes. The chief object of the invention is to evolve a generally improved form of clip orclampjwhich can be both easily and cheaply manufactured which will have the minimum number of component parts and which furthermore can be quickly and easily placed in position and removed when required.

A clip or clamp according to the invention for the purposes specified comprises two integrally formed or connected parts each of substantially U shape and each adapted to embrace partially one of the tubular or other structural members to be connected, and a bolt carried by each U- shaped part for drawing its associated arms firmly into engagement with its associated structural member.

Although it is within the scope of the invention to construct the two U-shaped members in-- tegrally in which case they are pressed out of a plate or sheet of steel or other suitable material, it is preferred for the sake of economy of material to construct the U-shaped members separately and to secure them together by suitable means, each U shaped member being formed from strip metal, the strip metal blank being bent to the appropriate shape. The U-shaped members if constructed separately may either be immovably connected together or alternatively they may be loosely riveted together by means of a single rivet or other connecting member or part, so that the two parts, are'free to turn relatively to eachother or alternatively have a restricted turning movement.

In order that the said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, the same will now be described more fully with reference to the sheet of drawings, wherein:-

Figure 1 is a front elevation of one form of clip or clamp constructed in accordance with the invention in position upon two tubular structural members.

Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a side elevation and plan view of same.

Figure 4 is a front elevation of a modified form of clip or clamp.

In the construction illustrated by Figures 1-3, the clip or clamp (hereinafter referred to as a clip) consists of two parts each of substantially U shape and preferably formed from strip steel or other similar metal bent to the appropriate form. The two U-shaped parts I and 2 are connected together with an interlocking engagement as shown clearly in Figures 1 and 2 the arms of each U shaped member being bent inwardly as at 3 after the two parts have been placed together to maintain the two parts in firm interlocking engagement, the two U shaped parts of the clip each embracing partially one of the structural members 4 to be connected and serving to hold the two structural members in a position at right angles to one another. Each 10 structural member preferably contacts with the adjacent face 5 of the intermediate portion of its associated U shaped part the arms being bent to contact with the structural member over a substantial proportion of its circumference.

Although it is within the scope of the invention to connect the arms of each U shaped part together by means of an ordinary bolt it is preferred that a bolt of the kind shown shall be employed. One arm of each of the U shaped parts is extended upwardly and outwardly to form an outwardly projecting upwardly inclined lip 6 slotted at 'l to receive the shank of a bolt 8, the opposite arm being also slotted as at 9 to also re- 5 ceive the shank the axes of the two slots lying in planes at right angles to each other. The bolt is provided with a head it preferably of square or rectangular shape having oppositely arranged inclined faces H and I2 either of which can be 30 made to engage the adjacent inclined face of the lip portion of thearm by reversing the position of the bolt. The inclined faces H and i2 are arranged eccentrically relatively to the axis of the bolt for a purpose hereinafter described. It is 5 desirable that theshank of the bolt shall engage the surface of the adjacent structural member inorder to maintain the latter firmly in engagement with the face 5 and the inner curved surfaces of the arms 'of the clip and by construct- 40 ing the bolt in such a Way that the inclined faces are disposed eccentrically any variations of diameter to a reasonable degree occurring between different structural members may be compensated for by reversing the position of the bolt 1. e. 5 by turning the bolt through an angle of 180. The bolt is provided with a securing nut l3 which upon being tightened will cause the two arms to be drawn inwardly into firm engagement with the structural member and at the same time 50 cause the one inclined face on the bolt head to ride up the adjacent inclined face on the lip into the position shown in Figure 1, in which position the bolt contacts with the adjacent surface of the adjacent structural member.

In order to place the clip in position upon the structural members it is not necessary to remove either the nuts or the bolts due to the arrangement of the slots and to prevent removal of the 5 nuts and the possibility of them becoming mislaid the extremities of the bolts may be burred over. The arrangement is such that the bolts are always in engagement with the slots 1 but can be released from the slots 9 by slackening the nuts and moving the bolts first laterally and then in an upward and downward direction respectively. To enable the bolts to be moved laterally out of the slots 9 the slots 1 are made of sufiicient width to give the requisite freedom of movement between the sides of said slots and the shanks of their associated bolts.

In the construction shown by Figure 4 reference characters similar to those used in connection with Figures 1-3 designate similar parts, the two substantially U-shaped parts of the clip and their associated bolts corresponding substantially with those parts previously described. In the modified arrangement however the two U-shaped parts are not rigidly connected together but are loosely connected by means of a rivet or like connecting member l4 whereby the two parts are free to turn relatively to each other, the construction being intended for use primarily in cases where the structural members to be connected are not disposed necessarily at right angles to one another. Alternatively more than one rivet may be employed in which case the parts will be rigidly connected, or by a suitable arrangement of slots connected with a limited amount of turning movement.

In both constructions illustrated the lower bolt I has been omitted from the drawing to show the form and disposition of the slots more clearly. Although the bolt has been described as having only two oppositely arranged inclined faces and having a head of square or rectangular shape it may be provided with four or any other desired number of faces to increase the range of adjustment.

The U-shaped parts may be constructed from steel or other suitable material and may be tempered if desired to increase their resiliency if this is found to be desirable. Furthermore although in the constructions illustrated the U-shaped parts are shown constructed separately they nevertheless may be pressed or otherwise formed from a single piece of metal, the metal blank being substantially in the form of a cross, two oppositely arranged arms being bent in one direction to form the one U-shaped part and the other pair of arms bent in the opposite direction to form the remaining u shaped part.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is;

1. A scaffolding clip for securing together in angular relationship two metal tubes or rods employed in the erection of scaffolding, comprising two substantially U-shaped members hooked together in interlocking engagement and eachadapted to embrace partially one of the tubes or rods to be connected, each substantially U-shaped member including two substantially parallel arms, securing bolts passing through slots formed in said arms for maintaining said arms in clamping engagement with said tubes or rods and an inclined lip formed on one of each pair of arms, each securing bolt having a head provided with an inclined face for cooperating with said inclined lip for the purpose of adjustment.

2. A clip of substantially U-shape to embrace a pipe or rod, said clip including a pair of arms having free end portions, a bolt extending through the free end portions of said arms for drawing them together into clamping engagement with a pipe or rod, and means whereby tightening of said bolt urges the same inwardly relative to the clip for clamping contact with the pipe or rod, said means including an inclined lip at the free end of one of the arms, and a head on the bolt cooperating with said lip.

3. A clip of substantially U-shape to embrace a pipe or rod, said clip including a pair of arms having free end portions, a bolt extending through the free end portions of said arms for drawing them together into clamping engagement with a pipe or rod, and means whereby tightening of said bolt urges the same inwardly relative to the clip for clamping contact with the pipe or rod, said means including an inclined lip at the free end of one of the arms, and a head on the bolt cooperating with said lip, the bolt head having a plurality of faces disposed respectively at different distances from the axis of the bolt for selective cooperation with said lip by rotation of the bolt.

4. A clip of substantially U-shape to embrace a pipe or rod, said clip including a pair of arms having free end portions each having a slot, the free end portion of one of said arms being in the form of an outwardly inclined lip, a headed bolt extending through the slots in said arms, a nut on said bolt for drawing said arms together, the bolt head cooperating with said lip when the nut is tightened to urge the bolt inwardly relative to the clip into engagement with the pipe or rod, the slot in the arm with which the nut cooperates opening through the side of said arm to permit engagement and disengagement of the bolt from said arm, and the slot in the other arm extending into said lip to permit the bolt to be swung to a position substantially in alinement with the last mentioned arm.

ALLAN MACBETI-I. 

